Marlboro man makes Redbook's sexy husbands roster

Wednesday

Some women brag to their friends that their hubby is the hottest, but Kerri A. McCleary, 31, of Marlboro took it one step further: She had it announced in Redbook magazine.

Mrs. McCleary clearly adores her husband, Richard S. McCleary, 29, a cancer research associate with striking good looks, a great sense of humor, and a winning smile. So, it was no shock to her he was named one of 25 finalists from across the U.S. in Redbook's “America's Hottest Husbands” contest. She had nominated him months earlier, but didn't tell him until it was announced he made it to the top 25 on the sexy list.

“The day I found out Rick was a finalist was the day I told him,” said Mrs. McCleary. “The night we found out, we went on Redbook's website. He wanted to check everyone else out, and we saw what the competition was.”

She said the decision to nominate him was spontaneous.

“I think any wife who adores her husband thinks their guy is No. 1,” she said. “The contest has a playful title, but they are really looking for more than just looks. It's the total package.”

When she first heard about the contest, she said, the couple was just married. They have been married four months and honeymooned in Mexico.

“I thought it would be fun,” said Mrs. McCleary, a social worker. “Then, when I got into the application, it asked you to think about ‘hottest husband' in terms of everything. You really have to be creative and think about it. It's not just looks and personality.”

True, her beau is a funny guy and makes her laugh a lot, she says, but there is more to Mr. McCleary than his quick wit. It is his attentive, caring side and outgoing personality she loves most.

“I'm more introverted and he's more extroverted,” she said. “We balance each other out.”

Mrs. McCleary also described herself as a “typical Caucasian.” Her husband is half Vietnamese.

His father moved to the U.S. from Vietnam in 1976 and met his mother here, she said.

“A lot of people wouldn't guess it,” she said. “People look at him and say, ‘What are you?' He's mistaken for being Spanish all the time because he's darker skinned. I personally think that is really cool. I'm your typical Caucasian. I have no ‘star culture.' When we do start a family and have children, that will be part of their heritage, too.”

When asked how she was going to top nominating him as the country's hottest husband, Mr. McCleary responded instead.

“The question is, how I am going to top this?” he said, laughing. “That's a pretty high bar. Unless I put her up on the Internet, it's a hard thing to top.”

If the shoe were on the other foot and he were nominating Mrs. McCleary in a “hottest wife” contest, he said, he would have no trouble filling out the application.

“She is the most real, genuine person on the planet,” he said. “If I do something really stupid and embarrass myself, she'll just say that's OK. She has a big heart. She allows me to make mistakes and understands me. She's always there and is extremely supportive and there to listen. And she doesn't judge people.”

The winner will be announced in the June issue of Redbook and will receive an eight-day, seven-night trip for two to the all-inclusive Imperial Maya Resort in Playa del Carmen, Mexico.

The McClearys will find out with the rest of the public who the winner is when the issue is released in June. Contest voting ended March 18. Mr. McCleary is one of only two finalists on the list from New England. The other is from Fairhaven.

“Everyone keeps asking me, ‘Do you know where he stands?' I don't know,” said Mrs. McCleary.

“Our family and friends are very interested,” she added. “Rick's mom even voted. She said it felt a little weird that she voted for her own son for this. Everyone thinks it is neat and interesting because it is a little different, I think.”

To view the top 25 finalists, visit www.redbookmag.com and click on the hottest husband contest link under the “sex and love” tab.

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